President Emmerson Mnangagwa has risked angering Zambia after declaring that Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) belongs exclusively to Zimbabwe and is not shared with Zambia.
He said the tourist resort faces Zimbabwe and has its back to Zambia and therefore belongs to only one country, Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa was speaking at the official opening of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre in Masvingo on Wednesday, 9 September, where he addressed local and international visitors.
He said it was not true that Victoria Falls is shared between the two countries.
“In Zimbabwe, we have a lot of beautiful places, to an extent that we cannot mention them one by one, that could attract tourists to visit our destination,” Mnangagwa said.
“God loved our nation. Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls), some say it is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia, but that is not true.
“If you are proposing love to a girl, you do not court her from behind but from the front. Victoria Falls faces Zimbabwe and has its back to Zambia.”
Critics say such statements can easily cause a diplomatic stand-off and raise suspicions between neighbours about expansionist intentions.
Geographically and for tourism purposes, Victoria Falls – originally named Mosi-oa-Tunya – is a World Heritage Site and one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, and is recognised as being shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia.
More: Masvingo Mirror
Leave a Reply Cancel reply